The Historical Society of Long Beach’s vintage postcards are small in size – 3 1/2- by- 5 1/2 inches – but rich in memories – images from the 1933 earthquake, the opulent Hotel Virginia and amusement rides at The Pike, among many others.

The historical society’s permanent collection houses more than 2,000 postcards, and, starting today, 50 of them will be displayed in “Greetings from Long Beach: Vintage Postcards from the HSLB’s Archives.”

which closes spring 2009.Even tThough just a sampling of the postcards will be displayed, the entire collection is accessible – via the historical society staff – to the public.

The postcards in the exhibit, which date from 1904 to 1961 and have never been displayed to the public, represent local events and structures from the city’s past.

Divided into 21 categories, they depict buildings (Villa Riviera and Long Beach City Hall), roller coasters (the Jackrabbit Racer and the Cyclone Racer), oil (the Richfield Refinery Fire, June 2, 1933), disasters (the 1913 Empire Day disaster), the beach, waves, downtown and piers, among other subjects.

“The images on the postcards are colorful and whimsical,” says Julie Bartolotto, executive director of the Historical Society of Long Beach. “While the purpose of the postcards was to show the folks back home what things were like here on the West Coast, you can also see how the graphics on the cards reflect the popular styles of the time.”

The postcards also were used to document an experience or event as it happened, Bartolotto says.

More than half of the postcards have been used, with postmarks from all over the United States including Iowa, South Dakota, New York and Vermont.

Replicas of five vintage postcards are for sale for $1 each or 12 for $10.

Amy Luke, the historical society’s office and archives manager for the Historical Society of Long Beach, discusses the images and history of five postcards in the exhibit:

“GREETINGS FROM LONG BEACH”

On The back of this circa-1950 s card, which was taken west of Pine Avenue looking east toward the skyline, reads, “Portion of skyline of Central business and hotel district, seen from Nu-pike Bathing Beach west of Rainbow Pier. Municipal Auditorium and Convention Hall is seen to the right.” The Wilton Hotel, now The Breakers, is the tall white building on the left, Luke says.

“THE EMPIRE DAY DISASTER”

On May 24, 1913, several thousand people came to Long Beach to mark Empire Day, a Canadian and British celebration that took place on Queen Victoria’s birthday. A crowd had gathered in front of the Municipal Auditorium, but before they could enter, 350 people fell when the top level of the Rainbow Pier collapsed through the bottom level and onto the sand. Thirty-six people died immediately and 14 later from injuries they sustained.

Photographers from Burro Studio, which was located at The Pike, rushed to the scene minutes after the collapse and snapped exclusive pictures, Luke says.

This postcard, one of 10 documenting the disaster in the historical society’s collection, looks down into the gaping hole and shows people scrambling to escape.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE”

Postmarked Dec. 31, 1910, this card was sent to South Dakota resident Minnie Kruse, whose family donated it, Luke says. Kruse’s cousin, aunt and uncle lived in Long Beach, she says.

The back of the card reads, “Dear Cousin – How are you? I have been sick a few days, but am feeling fine this morning. With Love. From Cousin.”

“OSTRICH FARM, LONG BEACH”

In 1907, a Long Beach business owner, trying to emulate the prosperity of Los Angeles’ successful ostrich farm, opened one on 2 acres at Long Beach Boulevard and 15 th Street, Luke says. The ostriches were raised for their feathers, which would be used in fancy ladies hats.

However, “I don’t think the owner of the farm knew what he was getting into,” Luke says. “The ostriches were temperamental, fighting with each other and smashing each other’s eggs.”

The farm closed three or four years later, Luke says.

The card is postmarked Jan. 31, 1909, in Watsonville, and the writing on the back reads, “Just back from Long Beach. Had a nice visit. Meet us at Pajaro Tuesday evening. Ma says bring a lantern.”

“LONG BEACH SANITARIUM”

This circa-1912 postcard promotes the Long Beach Sanitarium, which was located at 10 th Street and Linden Avenue and was originally called Long Beach Hospital, Luke says. In 1907, it was leased by the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which was run by Michigan-based John Harvey Kellogg, who advocated various treatments for his patients including diet reform and frequent enemas.

The back of the card reads, “A strictly modern medical and surgical health resort where the famous Battle Creek Sanitarium methods are used … A specialty is made of scientific electrical treatments of every description.”

The sanitarium was sold in 1921 and taken over by The Sisters of Charity, who renamed it St. Mary’s Hospital.

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GREETINGS FROM LONG BEACH

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1-5 p.m.; 1 to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; closed Dec. 24 to 26 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. Exhibit opens today from 1 to 10 p.m. (extended hours are part of the Bixby Knolls First Fridays event). historical society has extended hours first Friday of the month in collaboration with Bixby Knolls First Fridays. The exhibit will close in the spring 2009

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